Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with representatives of the UK steel industry on the implications of the outcome of the EU referendum for that industry; and what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies on support for the steel industry of the outcome of the EU referendum.

Mr Nick Hurd: Holding answer received on 07 July 2016



We are committed to working closely with the UK steel sector through the Steel Council, which is co-chaired by my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Chair of UK Steel, to maximize all opportunities to improve the sector’s competitiveness. This is also the forum for the Government and the Steel sector to work together to assess the implications of the outcome of the EU referendum. On 28 June, Ministers from the former Department of Business, Innovation and Skills held a special round table of business leaders, including the Chair of the Steel Council, to start to explore post-referendum issues. On 20 July, my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and I visited Port Talbot when we met with local Tata Steel management, employees and trade unions. The Government’s top priority for steel has not changed in the light of the EU referendum. The process for selling Tata Steel’s remaining UK assets remains ongoing and we continue to work closely with Tata and potential bidders to seek to secure a sustainable future for UK steel production.

Trade Agreements: China

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions the Government has had with the government of China on a potential free trade agreement between the UK and China.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions the Government has had with the government of India on a potential free trade agreement between the UK and India.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions the Government has had with the US administration on a potential free trade agreement between the UK and the US.

Dr Liam Fox: Holding answer received on 11 July 2016



In due course, Britain will be leaving the EU. This offers us an opportunity to forge a new role for ourselves in the world: to negotiate, in time, our own trade agreements and to be a positive and powerful force for free trade. But it would not be appropriate to provide a running commentary on initial discussions with individual countries. My Rt hon Friend the Prime Minister has established the Department for International Trade to promote British trade across the world and ensure the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us. We will engage fully with a broad range of stakeholders, including both governments and business over the coming weeks and months as we prepare for the negotiation with the EU and other international partners.

Department for International Trade

Overseas Trade

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Government plans to meet with the (a) Australian, (b) New Zealand and (c) Canadian governments to discuss the potential effect on trade with those countries of the UK leaving the EU.

Dr Liam Fox: Until we have left the EU, the UK will remain a member of the EU with all of the rights and obligations that membership entails. In due course, Britain will be leaving the EU. This offers us an opportunity to forge a new role for ourselves in the world: to negotiate, in time, our own trade agreements and to be a positive and powerful force for free trade. We recognise the need for a smooth transition which minimises disruption to our trading relationships. It would be wrong to set out unilateral positions at this stage. Already though we have seen expressions of interest in future trade deals with the United Kingdom, such as from the Prime Minister of Australia.

Trade Agreements

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans he has to protect public services in future negotiations on trade agreements.

Dr Liam Fox: My Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister has established the Department for International Trade to promote British trade across the world and ensure the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us. The trade agreements the UK is currently party to include specific guarantees for public services. Decisions on how to deliver public services for the best outcomes for UK citizens are made by the UK Government. The Government wants to ensure the continued provision of quality public services.